Diabetic who spat at garda was like a man 'possessed'

Andrew Phelan

A DIABETIC man, who struggled so violently with gardai that it was like he was "possessed", has been given a four-month suspended sentence.

Patrick Claffey (32) had claimed he had suffered a diabetic seizure but a judge ruled that he knew "full well what he was doing" when he spat into the garda's eyes.

Judge Anthony Halpin said it had been a "savage" attack and he did not believe it was caused by "hypoglycemic imbalance".

Claffey, of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, pleaded not guilty to assault at Dublin District Court to assaulting an officer who came to the scene at Bawnogue Fas centre in May 2009. Claffey was thrashing "like a madman" and being restrained after smashing windows and threatening to burn the building down.

The judge rejected the diabetic claim saying Claffey was co-ordinated enough to spit at the garda's face.

aphelan@herald.ie